Board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A ski instruction game apparatus comprising a playboard having depicted thereon a path representing a ski trail along which skier representations are advanced by chance and a demonstration hill simulating member separate from or comprising a portion of the playboard depicting the ski trail on which players demonstrate proper ski maneuvers by means of manually operatable ski representations as each player&#39;&#39;s skier representation reaches different positions along the trail.

United States Patent Knapp [4 1 Apr. 25, 1972 54] BOARD GAME APPARATUS 3,514,111 5/1970 Crawford ..273/134 A [72] Inventor: Caroline Wilke Knapp, [88 Tree Lane, FQREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Elmhurst, ll]. 60126 65,990 12/1947 Denmark ..46/43 1 F1led= June 3, 1970 610,265 10/1948 Great Britain... ..46/57 21 L N v: 43 145 829,342 3/1960 Great Britain... .....273/l36 1 App 1,134,147 11/1968 Great Britain ..273/134 [52] 0.8. CI. ..273/134 AE, 35/29 R, 273/ I 34 B, Primary Examiner-Delbert B. L we 2 3/ 6 273/l36 73/136 GB Attorney-Johnson, Dienner, Emrich, Verbeck & Wagner [51] Int. Cl. ..A63f 3/02 [58] Field oiSearch ..273/l34, 136, 1; 46/43, 57 [57] ABSTRACT [56] References Cited ski instruction game apparatus comprising a playboard havmg depicted thereon a path representlng a ski trail along UNITED STATES PATENTS which skier representations are advanced by chance and a demonstration hill simulating member separate from or com- 907,42l l2/l908 Stemhardt et al ..273/l34 G prising a portion of the playboard depicting the ski n on 1,635,734 1927 Ziegler l 34 AC which players demonstrate proper ski maneuvers by means of 3,093,919 6/1963 I 36 B x manually operatable ski representations as each player's skier 3,15%400 [2/1964 Bras-5 et r r "273/1 E representation reaches different positions along the trail. 3,359,003 l2/l967 Kass ....273/l36 B X 3,406,974 10/1968 Nelson ..273/134 AB 4 Claims, 13'Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 25 I972 13. 658,336 SHEET 2 SF 3 INVENTOR 8 CAROLINE WILKE KNAPP ATTORNEYS PATENTEU APR 2 5 I972 SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOR CAROLINE WILKE KNAPP wad??? ATTORNEYS This invention relates to teaching aids and particularly to novel devices which are useful in promoting knowledge and familiarity with skiing, its attendant skills and associated lore.

The principal object of the invention is to provide novel means by which a group of people, for example children, may be encouraged to gain familiarity with the basics of skiing while also learning courtesy on the ski slope and the jargon peculiar to this sport.

A feature and therefore further object of the invention is that it facilitates an acquiring of the mentioned familiarity with the sport of skiing while also providing fun and entertainment. Although intended primarily for use by children, the invention will also have appeal to adults desiring to gain useful information and familiarity with the basics of skiing.

In accordance with these objects, the invention comprises a playing surface or game board on which a ski trail is depicted. The ski trail comprises a sequence of steps or positions along which each player advances. in turn by a number of steps determined by chance. The device further includes playing pieces which preferably embody representations of skiers, a ski demonstration slope which may be separate from or constitute a part of the game board, and manually manipulatable skis by means of which a player can demonstrate his familiarity with basic skills in climbing or descending a ski slope. Thus certain ones of the steps or positions along the trail on which a player lands as a result of chance require the player to demonstrate his familiarity with a specific skill on the demonstration slope. Other of said steps or positions along the trail require a player advancing thereto to indicate his knowledge of some section of the skiers courtesy code, the meaning of ski jargon, and so forth. Depending on the correctness of the players response or demonstration, a penalty or reward may or may not be provided.

A further and'important feature of the invention is the novel construction of playing board and demonstration slope which facilitates playing the game while also being so constructed that it may be compactly assembled as for storage in a container of limited size. In some forms of the invention the container itself comprises the playing surface or other element of the structure comprising the device.

A further feature of the invention is that it may be enjoyed and played by persons of all ages, solely as a source of entertainment. At the same time, it is a self-teaching aid in that it forces or encourages its players to gain familiarity with the sport of skiing and a code of conduct essential to the health and safety of those participating in the sport. To this extent the invention promotes safety and also greater enjoyment of the sport ofskiing.

At the same time, the structure making up the device is economical to manufacture, as well as practical in its construction.

Many other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent or will become so from the more detailed description of the embodiments of the invention which are hereinafter described in connection with the figures of the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention, the

board forming the ski trail being illustrated in its collapsed state within the container therefor;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a view partially cut away and shows the spiral formed ski trail board of the embodiment of FIG. I in its elevated or playing position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1 and shows a detail in the construction of the ski trail board;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the demonstration hill of said first embodiment on a somewhat larger scale than is illustrated in FIG. I and show details in the construction and arrangement thereof;

FIG. 6 illustrates the demonstration hill with its second slope in useful position and reversed to that illustrated by FIG.

FIG. 7 is a fragmented view taken across the hinge connection of the two boards forming the demonstration hill and illustrates details of the hinge construction;

FIG. 8 is a fragmented view taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 6 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and illustrates one means of assembling the two boards of the demonstration hill;

FIG. 9 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 shows on an enlarged scale the hand manipulated ski representations which are used on the demonstration hill in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates one of the player pieces on an enlarged seale;and 7 FIG. 13 illustrates one means useful for determining the advancement of the player pieces along the ski trail according to chance, the same being shown on an enlarged scale.

Referring now to the several views wherein like parts are identified by like reference numerals, a first embodiment of the invention now will be described.

In accordance with the invention, novice and would-be skiers are taught an appreciation of, and become familiar with, basic maneuvers and courtesy on the ski slope as well as the language of the sport by participating in a game in which each participant in turn moves a playing piece a number of positions or steps along a ski trail, as determined by chance or lot. The game is completed when the last participant has completed his descent down the trail. Thus in FIG. 1, which is to be considered with FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, a ski trail 20 is illustrated as comprised of a flexible, shape-retaining material such as heavy cardboard or an appropriate plastic synthetic resin. As is apparent from FIG. 1 when considered with FIG. 3, ski trail 20 is cut from a single flat sheet in spiral form and has its lower end 22 fastened as by glue to a rectangular shaped base 24. As shown in FIG. 3, base 24 has side flanges indicated at 24a and comprises the false bottom of a container designated generally at 26. The spiral form of ski trail 20 has an upper end 28 which is centrally disposed and is supported at a height above the plane of the base 24 by a removably positioned supporting pole or rod 30. The lower end of pole 30 seats within the bore of a first spool 32 and its upper end removably seats in a provided recess of spool 34. Spool 32 is glued to the bottom wall 260 of container 26, with its bore aligned with an opening 24b in base 24. Spool 32 thus serves as a reinforcement for base 24. Spool 34 is adhesively secured to the upper surface of the centrally disposed upper end 28 of the spiral form 20 constituting the ski trail. As is evident from FIG. 2, with pole 30 removed, the spiral 20 can be collapsed to a compact flat state on base 24. If desired, a portion of the base or false bottom wall 24 may be cut out to provide a storage area 26b for the player pieces and other implements used.

Ski trail 20, as illustrated best by FIG. 1, is divided into a sequence of steps or positions identified generally by reference numeral 36. Each player proceeds from the elevated starting position 28 to the lowermost position of the spiral which is designated as the finish line." To indicate his position along the trail, each participant is provided with a playing piece indicated at 40. Playing pieces 40 may be of any designated shape, although they should have distinguishing characteristics as for example different colors. Preferably, the player pieces comprise representations of a skier as, for example, is illustrated in FIG. 12. Each of the skier pieces 40 has a base containing a magnetic portion 42 on its underside; and, as shown by FIGS. 1 and 4, the spiral ski trail form 20 includes magnetic attractable material embedded in, sandwiched between or mounted on each of said positions 36 of the ski trail form 20 which serves to retain a player piece 40 stopped thereon. One such construction is illustrated by FIG. 4 in which the spiral form 20 is of three ply construction. Said construction comprises a first thickness 44 of shape-retaining material, for example heavyweight cardboard or plastic which has sufficient flexibility as to accommodate raising of its inner central end 28 to the position illustrated in the FIG. 3, but at the same time is also sufficiently rigid and shape retaining in character that when raised to the illustrated spiral shape it will retain said shape and will not sag under its own weight or that of the player pieces 40. In addition thereto, the spiral form includes a much thinner outer layer 46 and an inner layer 48 of metal foil adhesively secured between layers 44 and 46. Outer layer 46 has imprinted thereon the sequence of steps 36 and associated legends and pictorial representations as afterwards described. Instead of metal foil, inner layer 48 may be of any other construction which will provide means to which the magnetic portion 42 of the player pieces 40 will be attracted. Thus layer 48 may also comprise a thin foraminous sheet or screen of metal. One or more spaced tapes or wires extending longitudinally of the spiral form 20 may also be utilized. In addition discontinuous sections of metal, one centered in each position or step 36, may be used in place of foil 48. As shown in FIGS. 1 and FIG. 4, the metal foil 48 is coterminus with layers 44 and 46. However, the inner layer of metal foil 48 may be narrower than the width of the two layers 44 and 46 and in this event the abutting peripheral edges of the two layers 44 and 46 may be adhesively united to each other and so form an envelope for the metal foil or tape 48 thus held therebetween. The player pieces 40 are advanced in turn along the ski trail a number of steps or positions determined by chance. Ordinarily the youngest player will be first. Any suitable means may be employed for determining the number of spaces, steps or positions 36 each participant advances in turn. One such means is identified at 90 in FIG. 1. Such a means as illustrated in FIG, 13 comprises a base 92 which may be integral with or separate from base 24 of the ski trail. About a central point 94 to which a spinner 96 is pivotally mounted are randomly arranged numerical values 98 in circular form. The spinner element 96 may be in the shape ofa ski and when spun the numerical value 98 on which the toe of the ski spinner 96 stops will represent the number of spaces which the participant will advance his player piece 40.

Each of the steps or positions 36 comprising ski trail 20 contain legends and associated pictorial representations which require the participant whose play piece 40 is advanced thereto to demonstrate his knowledge or familiarity with some aspect of the sport of skiing. For example, certain of said steps along the trail, as those designated 36a in FIG. 1, require the participant to demonstrate a designated ski maneuver on the demonstration hill 50. As an example, one of said steps 36a may require the player to demonstrate the maneuver known as snow plow" which a skier uses to cut down his speed or to stop when descending the ski slope. As shown best in FIGS. and 6, the demonstration hill 50 has various ski patterns depicted on its slope 52. In its preferred form these ski patterns are divided between two surfaces. One of these surfaces is designated 52A and is seen in FIG. 5. The other of these surfaces which is designated as SZB is on the reverse side of slope 52 and is seen in FIG. 6. The snow plow" for example is illustrated at 54a on slope 52A in FIG. 5. Other ski maneuvers illustrated on the demonstration slope 52A of hill 50 are traverse" at 54b, side step at 540. At 54d is illustrated a step most useful to get up from a fall and involves placing the skis at right angles to the descent of the hill. On slope 52B are illustrated maneuvers such as Schuss at 54e which is to be avoided by all but experts, parallel skiing which is referred to in the sport as Christies at 54f, Herringbone" indicated at 54g which is used in climbing a hill and Wedeln at 54i and also Heel Thrust at 54] which is required by a Schussboomer to stop fast when Schussing." These ski patterns may be imprinted on the surface of the ski slope 52 and preferably will be in different colors for convenience in identification. Where the demonstration ski hill or its surface layer is molded of plastic these patterns may be impressed or depressed into surface 52A or 528 thereof. The participant demonstrates his familiarity with the ski maneuver by following the pattern,: for example that indicating snow plow" illustrated by 54a on slope 52A using a pair of skis 56 which as seen in FIG. 11 are miniature ski representations corresponding in size to the ski patterns on slopes 52A and 5213. Each of these miniature ski representations has a short handle 58 by means of which the ski 56 may be grasped. The participant uses these skis 56 to follow the appropriate pattern. If he correctly demonstrates the maneuver to the satisfaction of the other participants or other criteria he is awarded a number of points designated by the step 36a which called for the maneuver.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, although the ski demonstration hill 50 may be molded in one piece as of plastic, preferably it will comprise two rectangular sections of shape retaining relatively rigid cardboard or plastic material. One of these two rectangular sections comprises the previously mentioned ski slope 52 and the other a supporting section 60 which will have a sufficiently smaller vertical dimension as to afford the required incline to ski slope section 52. The two sections 52 and 60, as shown in FIG. 5, are hinged together along their adjacent side edges 62 and 64. One suitable hinge construction is illustrated by FIGS. 7 and 8 which accommodates ready reversing of the hill so that selectively either surface 52A or 528 of the slope constituting cardboard section 52 may be uppermost and therefore displaying its ski patterns. Conveniently surface 52A will have assembled thereon a series of the most basic ski maneuvers and may therefore be designated as the beginners hill." The remaining and more difficult ski maneuvers would in this event be depicted on slope 52B appropriately designated as the expert's slope.

As illustrated in said FIGS. 7 and 8, such a hinge construction comprises a pair of adhesive coated tapes 68 and 70 which extend lengthwise of the side edges 62 and 64 of the support and slope sections 60 and 52 respectively. As shown in FIG. 7, these tapes are adhesively secured to the opposed surfaces of said side edges of the two sections 52 and 60, the intermediate portions of the two tapes between said side edges 62 and 64 being adhesively united and preferably also stitched, as indicated at 72. Any suitable means may be employed for maintaining the demonstration hill 50 in an upright position. One such means is illustrated in FIG. 8 as comprising a pair of flexible ribbons 74, each of which has one end fixed to an apertured eyelet 76 in section 52 comprising the ski slope. A rigid pin 78 is fastened by its center to the free or opposite end of said ribbon 74, giving an effective T-shape thereto. Supporting section 60 of the hill 50 also has a pair of appropriately located apertured eyelets 80 fixed therein. To set up hill 50 with the "beginners slope" 52A uppermost, pin 78 is first passed through eyelet 80 so as to straddle the aperture thereof. The cardboard sections 52 and 60 are then spread apart the maximum distance permitted by the length of ribbon 74, which is such that both sections can be located at the required angle and such that neither section 52 nor 60 is normal to the supporting surface. In this arrangement the ribbons will serve to retain the hill in the upright position illustrated for example by FIGS. 1, 5 and 6. To locate the demonstration hill 50 with the ski maneuvers depicted by the expert's slope" 52B, pin 78 may be withdrawn through the aperture of eyelet 80 and rethreaded through the aperture of eyelet 76. Then, after moving support section 60 to the dotted line position illustrated by FIG. 5, the pin end of ribbon 74 is repassed through the aperture of eyelet 80. In this new position the two sections 52 and 60 are again spread apart to the mentioned stable position which is determined by the length of ribbon 74 and illustrated by FIG. 6.

Usefully, the ski representations 56 will contain small magnets 57 on the underside of or embedded in the base thereof, preferably immediately beneath their pole or handle 58 by means of which they may be rested on the slope 52 of the demonstration hill 50, said slope 52 having a portion ofmagnetic attractable metal 53 embedded in, sandwiched between or adhering to its outer exposed surface 52A and/or 52B to which said magnets 57 of the demonstration skis 56 are attracted.

In addition to the above described steps or positions 36A along the ski trail which require the participants to demonstrate knowledge or familiarity with typical ski maneuvers which the skier will be expected to use on the slopes, other of said steps, for example those designated at 36b, will challenge the participant to demonstrate his familiarity with rules of safety as well as courtesy on the ski slope which will be important for a skier to know, a well as to recognize the meaning of various expressions used by skiers. For example, one of steps 36b may require the participant to identify the meaning of Wedel, how to use the rope tow, proper behavior on the chair lift, or the meaning of an indicated slope sign. Depending on the age and sophistication of the participants, a participant may be required to extract this information from the supplied Skiers Handbook 82, as by reading therefrom. He may also be expected to demonstrate his particular knowledge thereof and in which event the handbook would be used to verify the participant's position or answer if he is challenged by one of the other participants.

To create interest, enthusiasm and fun," other of the steps or positions 36, for example those designated at 36c may define fancied situations which require the participant to give up points or to be rewarded with points or another turn. As examples thereof, a participant landing on one of said positions 36c might lose points because of swinging in the chair lift as it carried him up the hill. Another step 360 might reward him with ah additional turn for having performed some courtesy to a fellow skier. Still other positions on the ski trail of this group would require the participant to select a card from a stack of think snow" cards indicated at 84, still others to select a card from a stack of ooops" cards indicated at 86. The cards of the think snow cards offer rewards in the form of points or an advance along the ski trail for some fancied act of courtesy or proper ski conduct. The ooops" cards on the other hand may impart a penalty because of some fancied breach of the skier s code or a rule of safety.

Consistent with the objects of the invention to teach participants that there is more to skiing than getting down the hill as ,quickly as possible, the awarding of points 88 for correct responses and demonstrations and also the taking away of points for incorrect demonstrations of a maneuver or a lack of familiarity with various codes of conduct which govern a skiers action on or about the ski slope are stressed. Thus, for example, the gold medal" 100 is given to the participant who gains the most points on his descent down the hill rather than to the one who finishes first. However, in the case of a tie, the first to finish may be declared the winner.

Other variations of the structure comprising the invention also may be utilized. For example in FIG. 9 and alternate construction of the ski trail is illustrated. In this form the ski trail 120 is arranged about the periphery ofa flat board 124 which is hinged at 126 for convenient storage. Ski trail 120 also embodies a sequence of steps 36 having a starting position at 128 and a finish at 122, the various steps or positions along the ski trail being as described above in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, however, the demonstration hill may be located in the central area of the playboard inside the path of the ski trail 120. In other respects the structure of the embodiment of FIG. 9, including the player pieces, demonstration skis and hill will be as already described. Advantageously, the dimensions of the playboard 124 can be such that each half thereof corresponds to the dimensions of the larger rectangular section 52 of the demonstration hill 50 so as to facilitate its storage with board 124 in a minimum size carton or container.

FIG. 10 shows still another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment a ski trail 220, which also embodies a sequence of steps or positions 36, is arranged in the form of a U which extends up one side, across the top and down the other side of a larger rectangular sized cardboard section 224, which is hinged along one side edge 262 to the side edge 264 of a second and smaller sized section 228 and serves to hold the first and larger section 224 in a sloped position. The connection between the two sections may be as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. In the embodiment according to FIG. 10, sections 224 and 228 may be utilized with ribbons 74 having threaded pin 78, as shown in said FIG. 8, so as to hold section 224 in a sloped state. Preferably, however, one end of the container 232 for the playboard 224 is provided with a second wall 234 spaced from end wall 226 of the container so as to form a pocket 230 in which the lower edge of the second or supporting section 228 may be seated. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the central area of the sloping board 224 comprises one of the two demonstration slopes 52A and 528, the playboard being reversible and the second slope being on the opposite surface of section 224. Thus one side of section 224 of the FIG. 10 embodiment may be provided with ski patterns 5411-54 of the Beginners Slope 52a and the reverse side with patterns 542-541 of the Experts Slope" 52B. Steps or positions 36 comprising the ski trail may be the same or may be differently arranged on the two sides of the sloping section 224. In FIG. 10 the means for maintaining each player piece in its step or position 36 to which the participant has advanced his player piece is illustrated as comprising small pieces of magnetizable metal 240 adhesively secured to the exposed surface of the sloping section 224. However, they may also be sandwiched between inner and outer layers comprising the sloping board 224. Alternatively, the sloping board section 224 may be of three plies comprising two outer thicknesses of heavy cardboard and an intermediate thickness of metal foil. Where the sloped member 224 is molded of plastic material, its-steps or positions 36 may be recessed to receive the play pieces or may include a raised section which would prevent the piece 40 from moving out of that position.

It will be understood that many other possible variations and/or arrangements, as well as number of steps or positions comprising the ski trails, as well as variations in the construction of the playboard and demonstration hill may be utilized in the invention. The above description of three embodiments of the invention, however, demonstrates clearly how all of the recited objects, advantages and features of the invention are obtainable in a highly practical, simple and economical manner.

Thus having described my invention, I claim:

1. A ski instruction and demonstration game comprising a playboard illustrating a ski trail embodying a sequence of steps toward a finish line, a demonstration slope integral with the playboard on which are depicted ski maneuver patterns, and a pair of manually operated ski representations, certain of the steps of said trail having instructions thereon which direct a player stopped thereon to demonstrate a ski maneuver on the demonstration slope using the ski representations, the playboard comprising a pair of rectangular shaped members of shape retaining material, one of said rectangular members having a length greater than its width and having one of its two shorter side edges hinged to a side edge of the other member, the ski trail being illustrated along the periphery of said one of the rectangular members and the demonstration slope being positioned centrally of said trail.

2. The ski instruction and demonstration game of claim 1 wherein at least the peripheral portion of said one of the rectangular members includes means for releasably holding a skier representation on each of the steps of the illustrated trail.

3. The ski instruction and demonstration game of claim 1,

' said game further including game pieces in the form of skier representations each having means for releasably holding it on the step of the illustrated trail to which it is advanced.

4. The ski instruction and demonstration game of claim 1 wherein both surfaces of said one rectangular shaped member of the playboard have a ski trail illustrated along the periphery and a centrally disposed demonstration slope, said rectangular members being reversibly foldable along their hinged side edges, and means for holding said rectangular members with either of said surfaces exposed and the hinged side edges of the two members higher than their free ends. 

1. A ski instruction and demonstration game comprising a playboard illustrating a ski trail embodying a sequence of steps toward a finish line, a demonstration slope integral with the playboard on which are depicted ski maneuver patterns, and a pair of manually operated ski representations, certain of the steps of said trail having instructions thereon which direct a player stopped thereon to demonstrate a ski maneuver on the demonstration slope using the ski representations, the playboard comprising a pair of rectangular shaped members of shape retaining material, one of said rectangular members having a length greater than its width and having one of its two shorter side edges hinged to a side edge of the other member, the ski trail being illustrated along the periphery of said one of the rectangular members and the demonstration slope being positioned centrally of said trail.
 2. The ski instruction and demonstration game of claim 1 wherein at least the peripheral portion of said one of the rectangular members includes means for releasably holding a skier representation on each of the steps of the illustrated trail.
 3. The ski instruction and demonstration game of claim 1, said game further including game pieces in the form of skier representations each having means for releasably holding it on the step of the illustrated trail to which it is advanced.
 4. The ski instruction and demonstration game of claim 1 wherein both surfaces of said one rectangular shaped member of the playboard have a ski trail illustrated along the periphery and a centrally disposed demonstration slope, said rectangular members being reversibly foldable along their hinged side edges, and means for holding said rectangular members with either of said surfaces exposed and the hinged side edges of the two members higher than their free ends. 